Canadiens News

Ovechkin, Eller and Fleury named week's 'Three Stars'

NEW YORK – Washington Capitals right wing Alex Ovechkin, Montreal Canadiens center Lars Eller and Pittsburgh Penguins goaltender Marc-Andre Fleury have been named the NHL's "Three Stars" for the week ending Oct. 6.

FIRST STAR – ALEX OVECHKIN, RW, WASHINGTON CAPITALS

Ovechkin led the NHL in goals (4), points (6), power-play goals (3), power-play points (5) and shots on goal (24) just days after returning from Greece, where he became the first Russian to carry the Olympic torch for the 2014 Sochi Winter Games. He opened the season by recording 1-1—2 in a 6-4 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks Oct. 1. Ovechkin then scored twice, assisted on the game-tying goal and potted the clinching score in the shootout to help the Capitals rally from a three-goal deficit in a 5-4 victory over the Calgary Flames Oct. 3. He closed the week by tallying Washington's lone goal, the 375th of his career, in a 2-1 loss to the Dallas Stars Oct. 5. The 28-year-old Moscow native and reigning Hart Memorial Trophy winner has played in 604 career NHL games, all with the Capitals, totaling 375-366—741.

Eller factored in on five of Montreal's seven goals, tying for second in the League in goals (3) and points (5) as the Canadiens split their opening two games. He began the season by recording 2-1—3 in a 4-3 loss to the Toronto Maple Leafs Oct. 1, becoming just the third Canadiens player since 2002-03 to register three or more points in the team's season opener, and added the game-winning goal and an assist in a 4-1 victory over the Philadelphia Flyers Oct. 5. The 24-year-old Rodovre, Denmark, native has played in 211 career NHL games, registering 36-46—82 and 165 penalty minutes.

THIRD STAR – MARC-ANDRE FLEURY, G, PITTSBURGH PENGUINS

Fleury posted a 2-0-0 record with a 0.50 goals-against average, .979 save percentage and one shutout as the Penguins opened the season with a pair of victories. He recorded 27 saves in a 3-0 triumph over the New Jersey Devils Oct. 3, marking the 24th shutout of his NHL career and second in a season-opening game. Fleury then made 20 stops in a 4-1 win over the Buffalo Sabres Oct. 5, extending his season-opening shutout streak to a franchise-record 115:06 before allowing a goal with 4:54 remaining in regulation. With the victories, the 28-year-old Sorel, Que., native moved into a tie for 45th place on the all-time NHL wins list (251) with Colorado Avalanche netminder Jean-Sebastien Giguere.